State Highlights: Calif. Senate OKs Right-To-Die Measure; Panel Begins Review of Kan. Behavioral Health System
News outlets report on health issues from California, Kansas, Missouri, Oregon, Arizona, Florida, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland and Massachusetts.
The Associated Press:
California Lawmakers Advance Right-To-Die Legislation
California lawmakers advanced a right-to-die bill Thursday, giving hope to those who want the nation's most populous state to allow terminally ill patients to end their lives under doctor's care. The state Senate passed the measure on a 23 to 14 vote ahead of a legislative deadline. (6/4)
The Sacramento Bee:
California Senate Approves Assisted Death Law
In an emotional vote on Thursday, the California Senate advanced a controversial proposal allowing terminally ill people to seek life-ending medication. Modeled on a law first enacted in Oregon in 1997, Senate Bill 128 would permit doctors to provide lethal drugs to patients with less than six months to live. The measure passed 23-14, over passionate objections from Republicans who argued it devalues life. (Koseff, 6/4)
The Kansas Health Institute:
Committee Starts Review Of State's Behavioral Health System
A committee charged with critiquing the state’s behavioral health system on Thursday met for a four-hour discussion on needed improvements. “We need to be looking at providing intensive treatment to people who need it and when they need it,” said Wes Cole, a member of the Adult Continuum of Care Committee who also is chairman of the Governor’s Behavioral Health Services Planning Council. “We need to keep moving forward.” After breaking into small groups, many of the committee’s 30 members raised concerns about reports of the state-run hospitals either not admitting people known to be in mental health crisis situations or sending them home before they’re stable. (Ranney, 6/4)
The Oregonian:
Missouri-Based Firm Pays More Than $80 Million For Piece Of Oregon's Medicaid Program
A Fortune 500 company is prepared to pay as much as $130 million to buy one of the larger health care companies serving the Oregon Health Plan. Critics are asking the state to block the sale. They say care will suffer as Missouri-based Centene pulls greater profits from the local company. Some lawmakers are also crying foul, saying reforms were intended to make sure that the state and federally funded Oregon Health Plan is managed by Oregonians, not far-off firms. (Budnick, 6/4)
The Associated Press:
California Takes First Step To Regulate Medical Marijuana
California took the first step Thursday to regulate its nearly 20-year-old medical marijuana industry, one that lawmakers said currently resembles something out of the "wild, wild West." Lawmakers in the Senate and Assembly passed separate bills attempting to set up state regulations that will pass muster with the federal Department of Justice. The bills were among dozens of pieces of legislation advancing through the Legislature Thursday as lawmakers faced a Friday deadline to move bills out of their house of origin. (Thompson, 6/5)
The Arizona Republic:
Consumers Can Search Health-Care Quality, Cost Online
Which Arizona hospital ranks among the best for uncomplicated deliveries or has the lowest Caesarean-section rates? In which hospital are patients more likely to die after a heart attack, or get an infection after surgery? How does your hospital's charges for knee or hip-replacement surgery compare with others? Consumers can find answers to these questions and more using an online hospital-comparison tool launched by the Arizona Department of Health Services last year. The AZ Hospital Compare database was updated this week with the most recent, 2012 inpatient data collected from all 108 licensed Arizona hospitals. (Lee, 6/4)
The Associated Press:
Feds: Florida Doctor Gave Cancer Patients Unapproved Drugs
A Florida oncologist was charged Thursday with giving cancer patients medications, included chemotherapy drugs, from other countries that were not approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration. Federal health officials said patients at East Lake Oncology in Tampa were unaware that for the past six years Dr. Diana Anda Norbergs and her staff were giving them cheaper, misbranded drugs that weren't registered or approved for use in the United States. She then billed the taxpayer-funded Medicare program and private insurance companies for the illegal prescriptions, claiming that she was actually using the FDA-approved versions. Norbergs pocketed the extra money, according to the indictment first reported by The Associated Press. (Kennedy, 6/4)
The Denver Post:
Coloradans In Poverty Less Likely To Survive Cancer, Study Says
Coloradans living in poverty were less likely to survive cancer, the state health department reported Thursday. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's report, "Cancer and Poverty: Colorado 2001-12," shows low-income Coloradans were less likely to get screened for cancer or be diagnosed at an early stage when most cancers are treatable. (Draper, 6/4)
The Chicago Tribune:
Medical Practice Embraces Patients With Limited English-Language Skills
The Illinois Administrative Code requires all health facilities to "ensure access to health care information and services for limited-English-speaking or non-English-speaking residents" by adopting and reviewing annually a policy that provides "language assistance services" and "to the extent possible as determined by the facility" provides for interpreters available in person or by phone 24 hours a day. The code says the facility must annually give the Department of Public Health a copy of its policy and include a description of the "facility's efforts to ensure adequate and speedy communication" between ESL patients and staff. The facility must also advise patients and employees of availability of interpreters and language services, identify and record a patient's primary language, and develop community liaison groups to ensure the adequacy of the services, among other requirements. Melaney Arnold, spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Public Health, was unable to immediately provide data on how many health facilities in the state may have recently been found compliant or noncompliant with the requirement for language services. (Kadioglu, 6/4)
NPR:
Gloucester, Mass., Police Program Provides Treatment For Drug Users
Drug addicts have begun turning themselves into the police department in Gloucester, Mass., after the police chief announced an amnesty program. Addicts who turn themselves in and hand over their drugs will go right into treatment, without criminal charges. (Becker, 6/4)
The Baltimore Sun:
Baltimore Officials Back Off Plan To Charge Smokers More For Health Insurance
Baltimore officials say they are backing off a plan to charge city employees who smoke more for their health insurance after union officials objected. Howard Libit, a spokesman for Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, said the administration agrees with the union's position that such a surcharge would need to be negotiated through the collective bargaining process. (Broadwater, 6/4)